Julio César Montero Pinson (Julio César Montero Pinzón), known as El Tarjetas, is wanted by the DEA and the FBI. US authorities link him to the leadership of the CJNG, drug trafficking and an alleged financial scheme targeting American timeshare owners in Mexico. [1][2][3]
Brief profile
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name in sources | Julio César Montero Pinzón |
| Date of birth | 2 June 1982 — according to the FBI file |
| Jurisdiction and international links | Mexico; USA |
| Legal status | Listed on the DEA’s wanted list; facing criminal charges in the US |
| Other names and aliases | El Tarjetas; Moreno; El Chess; Cesar Hernandez Jimenez; CH Jimenez; Commandante Tarjetas; Plasticas |
Drug case and separate financial conspiracy
An indictment issued by the District of Columbia on 11 January 2024 describes an alleged conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for importation into the US. A firearms charge has also been brought. The period covered by the indictment begins around 2014. [1][2][3]
The FBI has separately reported on an arrest warrant dated 27 October 2025 in the Eastern District of New York: money laundering, communications fraud and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation. This constitutes a separate line of proceedings. [1][2][3]
What does the link to timeshares mean?
According to the FBI, the scheme was intended to generate additional revenue to fund the CJNG’s drug and arms trafficking activities. The wanted notices feature a photograph, the aliases ‘Moreno’ and ‘El Chess’, and offer a reward of up to 10 million dollars. This information does not constitute confirmation of a conviction. [1][2][3]
Timeline of the case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 11.01.2024 | Drug-related charge in the District of Columbia. |
| 27.10.2025 | A federal warrant has been issued in connection with a financial case in New York. |
Verified on 4 November 2026. The status of the case is based on the sources cited; charges and allegations do not constitute a conviction.
